I agree, which is why I save my speed for the racetrack these days (where everyone signs up for the risk), and if not there, then it's somewhere way out in the boonies where the only person I'm going to hurt is myself. I don't see speed as the problem as much as seriously bad judgment and lack of training. I also think 70% of drivers shouldn't even have licenses to start with, most simply don't understand the essential physics of car control and friction at all, and they're never taught these things during their driver training.
Granted my opinions on such things tend to be extreme because I believe in common sense, good training, strict evaluation and licensing, calculated risks, and loathe blanket rules that hinder those with skill by trying to make up for the yahoos that slip through the system.
Again I'm not really defending Dave's actions as much as commenting on a trend of fear, ignorance, and ever increasing regulation concerning aviation that worries me. Sometimes I think the FAA would prefer that everyone fly perfectly straight and level at 30000 feet all the time, or just not fly at all. If that's ultimately where we're headed I'll just tear up my PPL right now.
-Mike
Fantastically put. not specifically in reply to this thread, but to life in general.